21. Pre-Gutenberg Printing

Blockprinting on paper started in China in the 7th c, but no examples survive. The oldest surviving printing was found in the Buddhist temple Pulguk-sa, Kyongju, Korea - a small dharani scroll printed 704-751, until then considered the oldest printing in the world. Fourteen examples (81 volumes) of blockprinting and movable type printing from the period 770 to 1442 are selected here out of 152 items.